Bridgeport, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport women's basketball team snapped a four-game losing streak with an 80-70 home East Coast Conference win over the visiting Mercy College Mavericks on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Purple Knights are now 2-8 overall and 1-1 in ECC play. Mercy remains winless on the year at 0-8 overall and 0-2 in conference action.

Holding a slim, 46-45 lead at the half, Bridgeport put the game away with a strong start to the second 20 minutes of play, as the Purple Knights opened the half on a 16-4 run to take a 62-49 lead with 13:26 play.

All five starters scored in double figures for UB led by junior Tanisha Carter (E. Hartford, Conn.) who recorded her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

Carter was joined in double-digit scoring by senior Edna Marant (Philadelphia. Pa.) with 17 points, sophomore Aziza Patterson (Teaneck, N.J.) with 16 points, senior Elinor Avny (Raanaana, Israel) with 12 points and senior Julia Colley (Harlow, England) with 10 points. Marant also contributed seven steals and five assists, and Patterson added six assists and six rebounds for the winners.

Mercy's Jasmine Williams led all scorers in the game with 23 points.

The Bridgeport women's team returns to action on Thursday, December 29 when they host Southern New Hampshire University in the opening game of the 2011 Bridgeport Holiday Classic. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. in Hubbell Gym.